HELP - My best friend has osteosarcoma

[Bear's mommy]

Laurie, I am so very sorry that tomorrow might be Lucas' final day with you. I am trying to type through my tears to let you know that your family and Lucas will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I have read your thread since it was started and, as crazy as this sounds, have become a little emotionally attached with Lucas as well as the other OS dogs.

I have seen everyone's photos and even showed my 15-year-old son the photos and explained to him what was happening with everyone's dogs. He especially liked Lucas because he looks like such a sweet and gentle man. He even asked me earlier today how Lucas was doing, and I told him that you had not posted in a few days.

I just wanted to let you know that I will be thinking of you and Lucas tomorrow and pray that God gives you and Lucas the comfort and healing you desperately need at this time.

Leslie

[Anne]

Please guys don't make this thread an unpleasant place to be by attacking people.

Moondog has been through the pain of having to part with her very much loved dog. She is saying what some of us need to hear. There was no criticism or malice in her words. She is showing care and compassion for our dogs. That's what this is all about....our osteosarcoma dogs. Let's please keep it about our dogs and not attack eachother.

Of course we love our dogs beyond words and are doing our best for them. I have no problem at all with Moondog's sage words. She came here to offer her wisdom compassion and knowledge. She cares. She knows. She's been there. She was advising us to be aware, keep watch, not to let our dogs suffer. How could anyone take offence at that.

I know an owner who couldn't let her dog go when it was time. This is the dog who ended up screaming in pain due to a pathologic fracture. It's something I never want to see happen to my dog and I would say none of us her with osteosarcoma dogs want that for our dogs either.

There have been only a couple of people in this thread who I think were lacking compassion, empathy or care. Thankfully they have not come back.

Please keep this thread in the supportive and friendly place it has been. We need support during this time. Antagonism takes away the great benefit of this caring thread.

[caseygina]

Laurie,
I am so sorry about Lucas-trust me, I KNOW how you are feeling. It was the hardest decision we ever had to make. But you are definitely doing the right thing. Just keeping thinking to yourself that Lucas will be able to do things and run and be pain free. It does help a little...and he knows you are doing what is best for him because you love him. Riley will be waiting for him with a big smile on her face...as will all our other dogs. Keep us posted and I'll be thinking of you.
Gina

[aprillovesherdogs]

Been there, done that is never a free pass to criticize. I've "been there" but I won't do that (criticize another for this very personal choice). Sage advice or not..we are all keenly aware of the of the outcome and the pain and should be able to deal with it as we personally see fit.

Laurie, I am a prayerful Christian and I have been praying hard for you. It never makes sense and your knees will wear out long before we find out WHY?. But, keep praying and comfort will come to you. Matty's end was so sudden that I didn't have time to think twice about it. With Ansel, even though he was seemingly clear of OS, he is still close to his end time. I too pray that God will take him gently in the night so that he doesn't need to sense my fear and sadness while helping him leave. He gets fussed over by all of us before he goes to bed everynight so I know he feels loved and secure. Whether he wakes up again is not up to me. I just do my best for him while he is awake.

Anyway, I too hope that we can get back to working together to offer support and love.

Here is something funny that happened yesterday. I call it "saved by the cheeseball".

We all are or have been dealing with medicating our dogs. I have medicated dogs, cats, a bird and snakes. I have tried all the fancy tricks, even the ones they sell in catalogs. Call me crazy, but I hate sticking my hand in a strong mouth full of sharp teeth to get a pill down. Ansel is a very slick minded dog and is very suspicious of any handouts other than dog biscuits. I believe he has figured out that I am trying to pull a fast one on him. He will drop the suspicious treat and carefully dissect it to remove the offensive pill. So yesterday, he assumed his position under the table while the kids were eating. I noticed that many cheeseballs were "accidently" being dropped and he was sucking them down before they could hit the ground. It then occurred to me that I could get the pill down with no objection by hiding it in the cheeseball. Mind you, it couldn't come from my hand. So I pushed in the pill, sat down at the table and "accidently" dropped it. It was gone in a flash. I don't know why an idea so simple can be so hard to think of. The cheeseball seems to be the perfect pill transporter. The pills slide in fairly easy, they don't fall out and they don't start to melt like in a hot dog or p-nut butter.

Anyway, I hope this little trick helps someone. I wish I would have thought of it years ago.

Take care all.

[Marley55]

Laurie, I am so sorry to hear about Lucas. Take comfort in knowing that you are doing the right thing for Lucas and that he surely knows that. Take strength from those of us who understand and know your pain. I will keep you and your family and dear sweet Lucas in my heart and prayers.

Marley

[Xena's Daddy]

Laurie,

I will be thinking of you & Lucas all day today!!
I know what you're about to face all too well. This is bound to be the hardest day of your life, but please be comforted knowing it will be the easiest one for Lucas! (He needs this SOO bad right now........)

Please know that I think you are doing right by him, and you should be grateful that he's hung in there for so long. He's had a pretty good stretch considering the awful circumstances that come with this disease, and he's spent the whole time being loved & cared for by you!! He's a lucky guy to have such a great owner!! I wish you all the stength & courage you'll need today. I hope all goes well............

We're all here for you......
MK

[Marley55]

"saved by the cheeseball"....I love it
Jaxx has quickly caught onto each and everyone of my pill stealth maneuvers. He LOVES cheese so that worked for awhile until he realized I was attempting to "poison" his cheese. He would just hold the cheese in his mouth, looking at me with the goofy roll up eyes and never swallow!! Drool and spit are just flooding out of his mouth but he will not put the cheese down or swallow.

Then onto hot dogs until I caught him eating the dog and spitting out the pill. We tried meatballs, same thing. Plus Mark grumped about the dog eating better then him since I made him fresh meatballs daily

I just gave up and starting asking him to open and pushed the pills down, but I just hate doing that since I get the how could you LOOK every time I have pills in my hand, plus there is the huge teeth factor as well.

We are off to the store in a bit and I am going to buy a big bag of cheese balls and hope it works for Jaxx as well as it did for Ansel.

[Anne]

I too am thinking of you Laurie. I'm sure you will do what you decide is best for Lucas. Please know that we care very much about how you are and the emotional pain you are suffering. I trust you are receiving he the guidance you are praying for.

I have this ahead of me and I need to prepare myself, as you have done. Hopefully I will be able to draw from the strength and courage shown by the people who have gone before me in this terrible situation.

My prayers are with you. God bless.

[aprillovesherdogs]

I do just have to add this for the sake of funny.

My sister has a German Shep that really guards her food. One day as a test I gave her a leaf of lettuce. She took it and hid it in a corner. Whenever another dog even eyeballed it, she growled. She guarded that tired, worn out, limp piece of lettuce all day. I finally had to relieve her of her stress and take it away.

But when I really want to see funny, I toss Ansel a piece of chicken. He will gag and make the most awful face while trying to spit it out asap.

[tla0126]

For all of you having to face tough decisions in the near future, my heart goes out to you. May God give you the strength and the guidance you need.... You are in my thoughts and prayers continually.

[Ninasmom]

Laurie, my thoughts are with you and Lucas. Godspeed Lucas - please wait for Nina, as she will follow soon.

Patti - you and I have walked similar paths with our girls. I understand your thoughts and words and agree.

[observer]

Laurie,

I'm sorry to hear your news. Going back over your posts, I know this has been a heartwrenching journey for you. Those of us who have been where you are (and where others are or have recently been through) know how hard these decisions are.

You and Lucas will be in my prayers, as are Marley/Jaxx and all the others who are on this road.

[lucasmom]

My dear rottie friends-
I took Lucas for his appointment at the vet today for what we all thought would be his last visit. Last evening everyone came over to say "good-bye" and I took the day off from work to spend our last day together. We went for a cheeseburger and sundae (Lucas' favorite) and I spent the entire day crying my eyes out. I haven't cried this much since my Dad died in 2001.

The time came and my sister, daughter, and her boyfriend all went to the vet. After the vet thoroughly examined Lucas for over 30 minutes, took X-rays, and bloodwork...he called us all into the office. He said that in his opinion, Lucas is not suffering and his condition is actually very good considering the stage of his OS. He said that the source of the bleeding was from an injury to his snout and that he should not experience any further nose bleeds. He advised us to NOT put Lucas to sleep just yet. He said that if he had any doubt in his mind that Lucas had pain that he could not control with proper pain medication, he would put him to sleep and not allow us to leave the office. He did caution us that Lucas' may relapse and have only a few more good weeks, or maybe a couple of months. He feels that Lucas is still enjoying life and, for now, we should hold off. Needless to say, I was/am so happy. I know that Lucas is going to die sometime soon, but every day we have left with each other is a bonus.

I believe that all of your prayers worked! Lucas ran into the vet's office like lightening and was very alert with this tail wagging constantly. Sooo...by God's grace, my bleoved Lucas is sleeping beside me...for now. I have learned that you need to take one day at a time. So this is very good news and I am very blessed to have him. My love to you all - Laurie

[ECAV]

Give Lucas a big special hug and kiss from me. You are blessed to have more time with him. Everyone of us who have been through this already or who are still going through this need compassion and understanding. No one knows exactly when the right time is. I still struggle did I let Lexi go to early, whould I have had some more good days with her, or did I wait a day or two longer than I should have. It is a very difficult decision and I think we can all second guess ourselves. I do know that we are all trying to do what is best for our beloved friends. So please everyone,try to help each other through this with as much kindness, compassion and understanding as possible. I will continue to keep all you in my prayers. It has been 4 weeks since Lexi is gone and someone please tell me when does it start to get better. I am having such a hard time with this. Eileen

[BeauandShan]

That is good news Laurie, I am so glad you have some more time with Lucas.

I know when I had Beau everytime I took him to the vets I was always thinking is this going to be the last, like you I would cry all day( I dont know where I got so many tears from), and each time I came out with him was like I had been blessed.

Yet I knew without any doubt the last time we went was definitely going to be our last time, I dont know how I knew but I honestly did, (maybe something in Beau was different I really just dont know). This in a strange sort of way made it easier to cope with, I cant explain that either. I hope it is like this for you with your Lucas. My thoughts are with you.

Ecav I know what you mean about when does it get easier it is two weeks and five days since I lost Beau and I still miss him as if it was yesterday. All I keep telling myself is that he is in a better place now free from pain and this awful disease.

My thoughts are with you all at this emotional time